While the lockout continues former NFL players looking for a second career in broadcasting will get the opportunity to see what it is like to be in front of the camera for an extended period of time. Instructors from all of the NFL’s broadcast partners will be on hand as well as ex-players Antonio Freeman, Drew Henson, Dan Klecko, Amani Toomer, among others. They’ll get first-hand training on how to be an analyst, learn how to edit and write packages and also get the chance to host their own Sirius XM Radio show.
Let’s take a look at who will be on hand at the NFL Films studios in Mount Laurel, NJ later this month.
NFL OFFERS FIFTH “NFL BROADCAST BOOT CAMP” JUNE 20-23
Top NFL Producers & Talent to Instruct Players
CBS’ James Brown to Serve as Host Joined By Ron Jaworski, Mike Mayock, Curt Menefee & Solomon WilcotsSixteen former NFL players, including ANTONIO FREEMAN, DREW HENSON and AMANI TOOMER, will take part in the fifth annual NFL Broadcast Boot Camp at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, it was announced today.
The program, which runs from June 20-23, is directed by the NFL Player Engagement and NFL Broadcasting departments and covers a wide range of topics with instructors from each of the NFL’s broadcast partners – CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SiriusXM Radio, Westwood One Radio, plus local radio and TV. It will include hands-on work in areas such as tape study, editing, show preparation, radio production, control room operation, studio preparation, production meetings, field reporting and game preparation. Each player will tape segments as a studio and game analyst and take part in a networking session with television executives. Each player also will serve as a live radio host on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Of the 90 players who took part in the Broadcast Boot Camp from 2007-2010, 36 have already earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their participation in the program.
“We continue to look for ways to help players develop skills to enhance their post-NFL careers. Many of last year’s participants used this program as a career springboard, with some participants returning as instructors in subsequent years,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Labor Policy and Player Engagement ADOLPHO BIRCH.
“Broadcast Boot Camp is an excellent opportunity for former NFL players who are ready to take an important step towards the next chapter of their lives and prepare for a successful career off the field,” said TROY VINCENT, NFL Vice President of Player Engagement. “The program provides participants with a comprehensive look at all aspects of the sports broadcasting industry and allows them to develop invaluable professional skills and relationships that can carry them through their post-NFL experience.”
The NFL Broadcast Boot Camp is one of several NFL Player Engagement programs to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. NFL Player Engagement prepares and supports players for life on the field and during their transition to post-football careers. Through NFL Prep, NFL Life, and NFL Next programming, the NFL Player Engagement department assists players in adjusting to life within the NFL, while challenging them to prepare for their next careers after their football-playing days.
Enrollment criteria for the Broadcast Boot Camp include NFL playing experience, essays, and demonstrated interest in media.
Following are the former NFL players enrolled in the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp:
Player Team Player Team Tony Banks BAL, DAL, HOU, WAS Dustin Fox BUF, MIN, PHI Anthony Becht ARI, NYJ, TB Antonio Freeman GB, PHI LeCharles Bentley CLE, NO Drew Henson DAL, DET Rocky Boiman IND, KC, PIT, TEN Dan Klecko IND, NE Barrett Brooks DET, GB, NYG, PHI, PIT Caleb Miller CIN Rob Davis CHI, GB, KC, NYJ Tony Stewart CIN, OAK, PHI Nick Ferguson BUF, CHI, DEN, HOU, NYJ Amani Toomer NYG John Fina ARI, BUF Maurice Williams DEN, JAX With more than 400 years of broadcasting experience, following are the NFL broadcasting talent and production staff who will lend their expertise to the program:
Name Network Glenn Adamo NFL Films Kenny Albert FOX Adam Archuleta Broadcast Boot Camp alum Brian Baldinger NFL Network Alexandra Brady NFL Network Bill Brown FOX James Brown CBS, Showtime Quentin Carter Big Ten Network Mark Champion NFL play-by-play Steve Cohen SiriusXM Radio Greg Cosell NFL Films Howard David Westwood One Howard Deneroff Westwood One Victor Frank CBS Fred Gaudelli NBC Rob Gill NFL Films Bob Goodrich Media Consultant Annie Hoffman Goodrich Media Consultant Ron Jaworski ESPN Arthur Joseph NFL Network Consultant Howard Katz NFL Gerry Matalon ESPN Dick Maxwell NFL Mike Mayock NFL Network, NBC Curt Menefee FOX Nick Pavlatos SiriusXM Radio Mark Quenzel NFL Network Derek Rackley Big Ten Network Jason Romano ESPN Mike Rosenstein NFL Films Ray Smaltz FOX Sports Molly Solomon NBC Chip Swain NFL Films Ross Tucker SiriusXM Radio Solomon Wilcots CBS, NFL Network Mark Wolff CBS Joe Zucco NFL Films
This is an event I would love to attend and live blog if I had the time. Maybe one day.